Explosive-engine.



1,086,857. patenteareb. 10,1914

A I l .7 -72 Patented Feb. v1.0. 19m

SETH A, RHQDES, 013" CHCAG, ELLNOS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

EXPLSlVE-ENGNE.

Patented Een. 1t?,

`Application led December 1, 1910. Serial No. 595,688.

To all whom z5 may concern Be it known that I, SE'rH A. Rnonns, a

'citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, county of Cookgand lState of Illinois, have invented certaii'f new and useiand effective valve mechanism which can he economically manufacturei` and readily maintained in good working condition and which eliminates the necessity of employing cam actuated, spring-held puppet valves.

The invention consists in the features of improvement hereinafter set forth, illus-` trated in the preferred form in the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of an explosive eiigine wit-h the improved valve mechanism applied thereto. Figs. 2, 3 and 4 aiepartial views similar to Fig. 1 with the parts shown in different posit-ions. l

The invention is particularly adapted and is shown as applied to a four-cycle internal combustion engine. The engine cylinder 1 is upright and is mounted upon a suitable crank case 2. The engine piston 3 is connected, as usual, by a pitman rod 4 to a crank 5 on the engine shaft 6, the shaft heing journaled in the usual manner in suitable hearings formed upon the crank case 2'. The engine cylinder shown is provided with a water jacket 7 and with an igniter plug 8. The admission and exhaust of the gases to andv from the engine cylinder is controlled hy two slide valves, .one of which is positively reciprocated by a pitnian driven from the engine shaft. This latter valve has a lost motion connection with the other slide valve and is arranged to intermittently reciprocate the same.- The second slide valve is frictioiially held in position and has periods of rest at the opposite .ends of its movement. lThe slide valves are preferably arranged in a valve casing 9 which is cast in one piece with the engine cylinder and is a ranged at one side thereof with its longitudinal axis parallel with the longitudinal axis `of the engine cylinder. The water jacket 7, as shown, surrounds the upper endsl n f v13 and the sleeve-like portion 22 of of the engine cylinder 1 and valve casing' 9. The valve casing is provided its lower end and in its outer side wall with an inlet port 10 for the explosive mixture, and the upper end of the cylindrical here of the valve casing forms an exhaust port 11. rPhe inlet I port 1G communicates with a suitable l o hui'eter or the like and the exhaust port 11 communicates with a. suitable minder, or is open to the atmosphere. Between the inlet and exhaust orts and. in the forni shown adjacent its upper end, the valve casing is provided with a port 12 which communicates with the npper or head end of the engine cylinder 1". The main slide valve preferably comprises a piston 13 which its within the cylindrical .ho-re of the valve casing 9 and is reciprocated or moved hack and forth over the cylinder port 12 to alternately connect the same to the inlet and exhaustports 10 and 11. In the preferred forni showin, the

piston valve 13 is mounted upon thenpper reduced en'd of a piston rodlland is removably held in position thereon hy a nut 15. rlfhe lower end of the piston rod 1li is connected to a piston-like cross head 16 which is fitted within the lower end of the cylindrical here of the valve casing 9 and is connected to the upper end of a. pitman rod 17. The lower end of the pitnian rod 17 engages a suitable crank or y eccentric on a valve shaft 18. In the form shown, the valve shaft 18 is journaled within the crank cas-,

ing 2 and lis provided with a crank 1-9 to which the lower end of the pitman 1T is suitably coupled. Twotoone 20 and Z1 mounted upon the engine shaft and valve shaft 1S serve to rotate the latter shaft at half the speed of the engine shaft.

The piston cross head 1S is provided withv an upwardly extended sie-eve portion which fits the bore of the valve ci 9 and which is provided on one side vv 'n an elongated. port that always communicates with the explosive mixture Eh supplemental slide valve pi' in form of an open ended eylint cal sleeve 2l which fits within the here of the vi .ve casing 9 and is arranged between the -eten valve head. l rl`he opposite ends of v 2l are alternately engaged hy the t ing piston valve 13 and sleeve :'22, so that valve sleeve is intermittently reciprocatedand is moved hack and forth over the port Mld i cylinder i;

The space bet-Ween the loiver face of the pistou valve i3 and the upper edge of the sleeve 21% is i ter than the length of the valve sleeve so that the latter has a lost motion connection with the niaiii piston valve and in. view of this lostniotioii connection, tlie valve sleeve has periods or" rest at the opposite ends of it-s movement. vThe valve sleeve 2st is trictionally held in position Within the valve casing and is preferably provided, as shown, with a packing ring set within a Groove therein.

In the drawings, the connecting gears between the 'engine and valve shafts are setto etliect the operation of the engine shaft in right hand direct-ion as indicated by the arrows slit "1 in the drawings. As shown, the crank or eccentric of the valve shaft has .ile angular advance or lead l; oi 'the engine shaft. l the parts are shown in the position, as-

sumed just as the engine piston'v 8 is about to commenti# its Working stroke. At this tim the c nder port 12 is closed by the sl -ve i During the Working stroke the parts move from the po- .:i. Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. to say, during the Working gement with the upper e valve 24 and both valves .iivardly, or toward the inlet at the end of the Working in valve 13 moves past the Yl2 and places the cylinder iunication with the exhaust 'valve casing. A

- erhaust stroke of the engine irts move from the position 2 to that shown in Fig. 3, and es are forced by the engine rough the cylinder port 12 .ie exhaust port 1l. `Atthe .et stroke of the engine pisedge or are ino'zf'ed port liti, un* stroie., the

port in c port il ot During piston t sh civili in l the i piston on and throu end oi? th ton, the port i2 is closed by the piston valve ci the lost motion connection ve valve 2t and the piston eve valve has a period 'of rest position shown in Fig. 2, '.d by the sleevev 22.0f the in. By reason of this arupivard `moi-ement of the .ioiii the position shovvn in the cylinder port 12 in coinuiunication i.Vith the inletpoi't l0 and the explosive niiiiui'( dravrn into the cylinder through the valve casing and port 12 during 'the suction stroke of thc engine pis-- ton 3. In e; the suction stroke the parts move from the positions shown in Fig. 3 to those shown iii d and, as shown, at the ,By re between tl valve, the

'liig'ffm en t, piston vali.' Fig. il pla the port l2. reason of the lost motion Connection, the

In Fig.

enfnue piston l3 the piston.

sleeve valve 24e has a periodl of rest in its uppermost position, during the compression stroke of the engine piston or as the parts move from the positions shown in Fig. l back to those shown in Fig. 1. At the end of the compression stroke, the lost motion between the main piston valve and supplemental sleeve valve is taken up and the parts are ready for the next cycle of op erations. During the periods of rest of the sleeve valve 24, -it is frictioiially held iii position by the engagement of its Walls and of its packing ring 25 With the walls of the cylindrical valve casing.

In accordance with the preferred plan of 'cannot be unseat-ed by pressure exerted thereon through the. cylinder port l2, and since this forni p: ovides very large bearing surfaces for the valves which cannot readily` be me Worn. It is obvious that the valve mechanism is extremely simple in const-ructioii, both valves positively operate and the necessity of employing cam operated,spring held, puppet valves, Which readily Wear and get out of order, is avoided. The pist-on valvo'l is readily accessible and can be easily removed through the exhaust port ll and when this is done, the sleeve valve 2t can be easily removed. Both valves ca n therefore be readily repaired or renewed. The valve mechanism has been found to be extremely quiet and eliicient in operation. By changing the angular advance or'lead of 4 the crank orecceiitric on the valve shaft 18 the engine shaft can be operated in the reverse, left-hand direction.

-It is obvious that numerous changes can be inade in the details set forth without departure from the essentials of the invention as defined in the claims.

I claim asmy invention:

l. In an explosive engine, the combination with the engine cylinder, piston and crank shaft, of main and supplemental slide valves for controlling the admission and eX- ihaust ofr gases to and from the engine cylinder, means driven by the ciaiilt shat't for reciprocating'said main valve, the latter hav4 ing a lost-motion connection With said supplemental valve, arranged to engage and shift the same'at the opposite ends ot the movement of said main valve, substantially as described.

2. In an explosive engine, the combination With the engine cylinder, piston andl crank shaft, of main and supplemental slide valves for controlling the admission and exhaust of gases to and from the engine cylinder, means driven by the crank shaft for. reci kirocating said main valve, the latter having a lost-motion connection with said supplemeiital valve` arranged to 4engage and shift theysame lat the opposite ends ot-the -port to said movementl ofsaid main valve, said supplemental valve being frictionally held in position and havingperiods of restat` the opposite ends of itsniovenient, substantially as nately? lconnect saidrcylinder 'to said inlet and exhaust ports, a supplemental slide valve for `cut-ting'oifcommunication With said cylinder during the compression stroke of the piston, means driven fronitlie engine crank shaft for positively reciprocating said main slide valve, said'inain valve having a lost-motion y connection With said vsupplemental yvalve f forintermittently reciprocating the same, and said supplemental valve having periods of rest at the vopposite ends of its movement, substantially as described. 4:. .ln -a` four-cycle, explosive engine, the

combination ivith the engine cylinder, pistonjand crank shaft, of a valve casing having inlet and exhaust ports and a port communicating with the head end of the cylinder, a main slide valve in said casing arranged to alternately connects-aid cylinder inlet and exhaust ports, a suppleinental valve closing said cylinder port during the compression stroke of the piston, v

and means driven from the 'engine crank shaft for 'positively reciprocating -said main slide valve, said latter valve having a lostvmotion connection with said supplemental eating said piston valve arranged to engage and shift the same at the ends of the movement of said main valve, substantiallyr as described.

In an explosive engine, the combina' ltion with an engine cylinder, piston and crank shaft, of a valve casing having a cylindrical bore and providedwith inlet and exhaustports and communicating with the engine cylinder, a reciprocating piston valve and a sleeve valve fitted ,Within said casing for alternately connectingp'said cylinder to said inlet and exhaustpo'rts, and .means driven from the engine shaft for reciprovalve said sleeve valve held in -position and said .pist-on valve having a lost-motion connection vvith. saidy sleeve valveto intermittently reciprocate the same and allow periods of rest being fric tionally to said.V sleeve valve at the opposite ends of its movement, substantially as described.

l 6. In /a four-cycle, explosive engine, the combination With the enginecylinder, piston and vcrank shaft, o'f a valve casing hav-I ing a'V lcylinder port and inlet. and exhaust ports and an intermediate 'port communicating'vvith the head end of the engine cylinder, a piston valve tting said casing rand -movable across said cylinder port to alternately connect the same to said inlet and eX- liaust ports,.a pitmanconnect/ed to said pist0n valve for reciprocating the saine, twovto-oiie ygearingdrivenffrom the engine shaft for Aoperating-l said. 'pit'main a sleeve valve frictionally held iii-position in said casing and `having a lost-motion connection ivitli said piston valve and arranged to be inte/i'- inittentlyreciprocated thereby, said sleeve valve'being arranged to close saidy cylinder port during the compression vstroke of the enginep'iston, ,substantially asl described." y

T. In an explosive engine, the combination ivith the enginecylinder, piston anti'crank shaft, of a valve casing *having an oren ended vcylindrica,l bore ivith inlet and engine cylinder ports in its side iva'lls, a reciprocating pist-'on valve in said casing -inovable across said cylinder port, a pistoncross-head in said4 casing connected to said piston valve, a pitman driven from the engine 'shaft and connected to said cross-hea@ and "a sleeve valve in said casing between said piston i valve and cross-head and arranged to be intermittently `reciprocated therebyl to'` open and yclose said cylinder port; said sleeve valve,havingfperiods,of rest at the opposite ends of its movement, substantially asdescribed.

S. ln van explosive engine, the combina` tion with' the engine cylinder, pistonfand crank shaft,l of a valve casing'havinga" cylindrical bore and a port communicating with the engine cyliiidei, a sleeve .valve for opening and closing said port fitted Within the bore of said casing and frictionally held in position therein, a reciprocating member having a lost-motion connection With said sleeve valve to intermittently reciprocate the same and allovvT periods of rest thereto atthe opposite ends of its movement and means for positively reciprocating said member driven from the engine shaft.l substantially as' described.

19. ln a four-cycle, explosive engine, the combination with the engine cylinder, piston and crank shaft, of a valve casing iaving inlet and exhaiist passages and commu-y nicating With the head end ofthe engine cylinder, a main slide valve in said' casing 115 arranged to alternately connect said cylinder to said inletand exhaust passages, a supplemental slide valve for cutting oit' communication with said cylinder during the compression stroke of the' piston, and means 120 driven from the engine crank shaft for reciprocating said main slide valve, the latter having a lost-motion connection with said supplemental valve arranged to engage and vshift the same at the opposite ends of the as described.`

10.' ln-an explosive engine, tlie conibinationwith the engine cylinder, piston and -crank shaft, of a valve casing havinginlet and exhaust passages and communicating with the head end of the engine cylinder, main and supplemental slide valves in saidcasing cooperating to alternately connect said cylinder to said inlet andv exhaust passages,

connection with said supplemental valve for` shifting the same to the opposite ends of the movement oi' said main shaft and said supplemental valve having periods of rest at the opposite ends of its movement, substantially as described. 4 s

11. In an explosive engine, the combination With an engine "cylinder, piston and crank shaft of a valve cas-ing having a cylindrical valve and communicating with theengiue cylinder, a reciprocating piston valve and a sleeve valve` fitted Withln the cylindrical valve seat of said casinnr and ar? ranged to control thefadmission'andexhaust of gases to and from said cylirder, -and means'driven fromv the engine crankshaft for reciprocating said piston valve, 'the latter having a lost-motion connection with said sleeve valve to intermittently shift the sanie at the opposite ends of the movement of said piston valve, substantially described.

12. In a tour-cycle explosive engine, the combination with an engine cylinder, piston and crank shaft, of' a valve casing having a -cylindrical bore and provided with inlet and exhaust passages and communicating With the head end oi the engine cylinder, a reciprocating piston valve hitting the cylindrical bore of said valve casing and ai'- ranged to alternately connect said cylinder to said inlet and exhaust passages, a sleeve valve 'fitting the cylindrical bore oi' said valve casing and .arranged to cut oli' communication with said cylinder during the compression strokecf the engine piston, and means driven from the engine crank shaft for reciprocating said piston'valve, the lat- -ter having a'lostdnoticn connection with said sleevevalve to intermittently shift the [saine at the opposite ends of the movement of said. piston valve, and said sleeve valve having periods ofv rest at the oppositie ends of itsinoveinent, substantially as described.

SETH A. RHODES.

Witnesses z LULU SAVERY,

KATHARINE GEnLAoi-L 

